NOTE: DFA Media, organiser of Plant & Asset Management exhibition and co-located shows, has been actively monitoring and following advice regarding the Coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) over the past weeks. It has been decided that the show and its co-located events, which were due to take place in April 2020, will be postponed and rescheduled for 25-27 January 2021. For more information, click here.
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At a time when engineers are under increased pressure, and time out of the office for attending exhibitions needs to be balanced against heavy workloads, one growing justification for attending is a balanced and focused seminar programme where gaining further industry knowledge is at the core. Located at the heart of the 2020 co-location are the Engineering and Digitalisation Forums.
THE ENGINEERING FORUM
With a strong emphasis on technology, the Engineering Forum will bring together aspects of plant and asset management, hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics and automation, energy efficiency, machine safety, drives, motion control, legislation, system strategies and technological developments.
Chairman of the British Automation and Robot Association Mike Wilson will be discussing how the growth of robotics will generate better return on investment and productivity. He will also explain the ongoing practical challenges, continued efforts around education, and investment in robotic technology as a means to help UK manufacturing compete with other major economies.
Dr John Ahmet Erkoyuncu from Cranfield University, meanwhile, will take a look at the importance of condition monitoring as part of a digitalisation strategy. In addition, Nikesh Mistry, sector head for industrial automation at GAMBICA, will be exploring why demand for automation technology is set to grow throughout the coming year, and how to retain a competitive advantage in the face of these new demands, as well as overall automation trends in the UK.
Panel discussions will also be a major feature of the Engineering Forum, with issues such as ‘predictions for manufacturing: industrial trends for 2020’. In light of the changing relationship between the UK and the EU, this panel discussion will offer a debate around the direction that UK manufacturing is heading over the next 12 months, as well as the products and initiatives hailed as ways to help transform manufacturing businesses.
The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) will also be discussing practical ways that its members can help inspect, maintain, and manage the machinery and equipment that keeps manufacturers functioning. For example, Martin Barnes, technical engineer at Ambipar Response and SOE member, will be looking at fixed asset management and maintenance of fixed plant items; the conventions, legislation and statutory duties associated with production plant and machinery. As part of this seminar, Barnes will discuss the management system his company uses to track and maintain physical assets across three different UK sites and the upset incorrect data causes during audit, for example.
Other content includes seminars and case studies from the CSA Catapult, British Fluid Power Association, BCAS (British Compressed Air Society), Pilz, Primary Engineer, plus many more, which will be updated on the show websites.
THE DIGITALISATION FORUM
The Digitalisation Forum, sponsored by Pilz, will reflect the on-going global transformation to the smart manufacturing era and provide an insight into the potential plants of the future, covering all aspect of the digital transformation across the manufacturing spectrum. Experts will address the vast array of information around Industry 4.0, discussing the practicalities, technologies and issues surrounding transition and implementation of digitalisation in UK manufacturing.
Over the course of the three-day seminar programme, visitors will have the opportunity to learn how they can seize the opportunities that exist and promote the benefits of adopting emerging digital technologies through a range of practical case studies, panel discussion and seminars.
GAMBICA’s Steve Brambley will present papers on getting started on the smart manufacturing journey by discussing IT, cyber security, cloud computing and industrial automation, and what it means.
Allen Camm, relationship manager at Made Smarter, will also explore the barriers and challenges North West manufacturers have experienced around bringing technology into their businesses. Representatives from the North West pilot will share steps that manufacturers can take to help them start their digital journey and examples of businesses who have taken their first steps to successfully implement technology.
Other key issues will also be highlighted. Andrew Hodgson, strategic lead for digitalisation at Siemens, and VP of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), for example, will pose these questions: what do digital twins really mean for the manufacturer? How can it benefit the design, the production and the service, either as a complete unbroken value chain or as a supplying SME in B2C and B2B? Hodgson will look to demystify the term by breaking it down into meaningful concepts, as well as giving examples of what it can do as the drive towards digitalisation gains momentum.
As part of the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s presence at the events, the manufacturing organisation will highlight the changing manufacturing landscape – challenges and opportunities – as well as case studies that will help provide practical steps that manufacturers can take on the journey to embrace digitalisation.
BCAS executive director Vanda Jones will also look at how compressed air systems have a significant impact on the energy consumption and efficiency of manufacturing systems, and will discuss the energy efficiency gains in compressed air systems.
In addition, David Collier from Pilz Automation Technology will be discussing the issues surrounding maintaining safe production in a smart factory, and practical solutions to keep production safe in an ever-changing environment. Andy Sellars, strategic development director at CSA Catapult, meanwhile, will present a seminar on emerging technologies to support industrial digitalisation.
These are just some of the confirmed highlights. For further updates and to view the full programme, visit: www.is.gd/asahix.
PLANT & ASSET MANAGEMENT EXHIBITORS
UE Systems (stand #P218) specialises in providing ultrasound instruments and training solutions for predictive maintenance, reliability, condition monitoring and energy saving programmes. By helping companies to establish and mature an ultrasound inspection programme, it can help to achieve energy savings by finding compressed air leaks and faulty stream traps; reduce downtime by monitoring the condition of bearings, prevent lubrication issues and identify bearing failures at an early stage; and improve safety procedures by using ultrasound for discharge detection during electrical inspections. Among its product range is the Ultraprobe Grease Caddy, an instrument that aims to optimise lubrication programmes to avoid early bearing failures.
Society of Operations Engineers (stand #P25) is a professional membership organisation. Through its three professional sectors, it directly influences road transport, plant operations and engineer surveying, developing and maintaining standards of competence and conducts for those working to inspect, maintain and manage the equipment and machinery. The society promotes reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable operations engineering, through the support of best practice and health and safety initiatives, a commitment to the professional development of members and by influencing legislation and design. Visitors can learn how the SOE can help careers in engineering with professional recognition through the Engineering Council, technical guides, accreditation standards, CPD events and more.
Other exhibitors appearing at Plant & Asset Management include: Boccard UK (stand #P206); Clockwork IT (stand #P10); DCO Systems (stand #P204); Fixturlaser UK (stand #P120); Fluke UK (stand #P208); Keytracker (stand #P30); Lee Spring (stand #P20); Pragmatic Maintenance & Reliability (stand #P216); Pruftechnik (stand #P214); Reliability Maintenance Solutions (stand #P304); Seepex UK (stand #P40); SimPro Software (stand #P122); SolutionsPT (stand #P123); SPM Instrument UK (stand #P224); Ultimo Software Solutions (stand #P50); and Visual UK (stand #P60).